Manner of constructing portable tents



narra stares frarniar onirica j JAMEs H. DAKIN, or New ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.`

.'LVIANINER` 0F CONSTRUCTING- PORTABLE TENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,655, dated May 30, 1842.

To all whom` t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES I-IARnisoN Dn` nin, of the city of New Orleansand State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement on Tents, and do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description.

The nature of my invention consists in the formation and combination of a light frame work with a small upright shaft, and arms attached to it by means of hinges and cords, rendering the arms movable from a horizontal to a perpendicular position, and the application of such frame work to any tent when the covering of the tent is made of cloth or any flexible or pliable material and formed with any number of sides. f tent so formed may be suspended from above or supported from below as the case may be, and folded up or expanded in effect somewhat similarl to the folding up and expansion of a common umbrella.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, having reference to the annexed perspective drawing making a part of this specification.

I fix or place a small shaft of wood or other suitable material in a perpendicular position as at A, making at each en d of the shaft a small projection around it as at B and C, I then attach as many arms to the lowermost projection B as at D, D, as it is desired to give sides to the tent, by means of hinges and all set at equal distances apart around the projection B and of such lengths as will give the desired diameter to the tent. I attach to, or near the outer end of each of the arms D, D, a small co-rd which is passed up over and down through small holes in projection C, and along down the shaft A, through similar small holes in proj ect-ion B under and near which they all terminate as at E, E at F, and their ends are united by a tassel or knot as F, making these small cords of equal and sufficient length from their attachment at the arms D, D, to their termination at F, to allow the arms D, D, to fall into a position or plane perpendicular to the shaft A, as these cords alone support the arms D, D, etc. Then I unite or connect the outer ends of the arms D, D, bv passing a small cord around at or near their outer ends as at G, G, fixing them at equal distances apart, etc. Thus the frame of the tent is completed.

The frame thus completed may be covered with cloth, canvas, gauze, netting or any suitable pliant or flexible material or fabric according to theuse for which the tent will be intended whether as a protection against insects or the weather, etc., the joints or angles of which covering are shown at II, II. The vertical or inclined sides of the tent covering will continue below the arms-D, D. a sufficient distance to give the required height to the tent leaving an opening in one ofthe sides for egress and ingress. At the bo-ttom edge of the tent covering a small tube is formed which is filled with any suittable weighty material such as shot or sand, etc., which will cause the lower edge of the covering to set or lie close to the ground or floor or whatever it may rest upon, or the bottom may be secured by loops, hooks or pins as in the ordinary manner for military tents.

The tent so made may be suspended by the top of the shaft A to the ceiling of a room or any required place or thing by a cord and pulleys, etc., or it may be supported from below by making the shaft A continue down to the ground or floor and fixed into anything that will give the shaft sufficient iirmness in such position and may be assisted with guy ropes or cords as in the ordinary manner.

To fold up the tent thus made, first clue up the sides to the outer ends of the arms D, D, then pull gently upon the tassel or knot F, and the whole mass will be drawn up close around the shaft A. Secure the cords E, E, around the bottom of the shaft or anything at pleasure and the tent will be formed ready for removal, etc. To reform the tent for occupancy or use or to unfold it, let go gently the small cords E, E, and the arms D, D, will fall intoma horizontal plane then let go the cluings'br fastenings at the points of the arms D, D, and the sides of the tent will fall into their proper positions and the tent will be ready for occupancy or use.

What I claim as my invention and desire that purpose Wood, metal, or any other mato secure by letters patent isterial that Will be suitable to accomplish the l0 The application of a light movable frame intended o-peration and efect.

Work to tents X'ed permanently in the roof 5 or upper part ofthe tent which will allow JAMES HARRISON DAKIN' the tent to be folded up 'and Closed or un- Witnesses: folded and formed for occupation and use ROBERT NALL, at pleasure as herein described using for THOMAS HALL. 

